Indigenous Language Revitalization

Close-up of a person writing in a notebook outside

Our Indigenous language revitalization programs, offered in collaboration with the Department of Linguistics and the Division of Continuing Studies, seek to support communities to retain and revive their own language. While we offer on-campus Indigenous Education courses, we also offer our programs directly within individual language communities.

Programs

Certificate in Indigenous Language Proficiency

About the Certificate in Indigenous Language Proficiency

The goal of the Certificate in Indigenous Language Proficiency program is to support Indigenous communities to create new adult speakers, by providing a strong foundation in language learning and language learning methods that will support ongoing language acquisition. 

This certificate is a credential on its own, or can ladder into the Diploma in Indigenous Language Revitalization and Bachelor of Education in Indigenous Language Revitalization. Each delivery is co-designed and administered in partnership with an Indigenous community.

Program information

Level: Undergraduate Program Length: 1 year
Intake: 30  
Co-op: No Full-time or part-time: Full-time (One week intensive/month)
Department: IED Location: Community-based
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Diploma in Indigenous Language Revitalization

About the Diploma in Indigenous Language Revitalization

The Diploma in Indigenous Language Revitalization aims to assist people who want to build on their Indigenous language proficiency to better understand the contexts in which Indigenous languages can be successfully taught and gain some basic teaching skills. This may include people who are interested in a credential that will allow them to teach a First Nations language in a First Nation administered school or a BC public school. (A First Nations Language Certificate must be sought from the BC Ministry of Education through the support of the student’s local Language Authority).

The undergraduate diploma is a two-year program, potentially including the Certificate in Indigenous Language Revitalization or the Certificate in Indigenous Language Proficiency, and/or a path that ladders into the Bachelor of Education in Indigenous Language Revitalization and BC teaching certification.

Program information

Level: Undergraduate Program Length: 2 years
Intake: 30 Includes summer term: Optional
Co-op: No Full-time or part-time: Full-time (One week intensive/month)
Department: IED Location: Community-based
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Bachelor of Education in Indigenous Language Revitalization

About the Bachelor of Education in Indigenous Language Revitalization

The Bachelor of Education in Indigenous Language Revitalization is a community-based, cohort-driven program that is designed for BC Indigenous community members who want to learn their language and become teachers of their language, and would like to study in their home community. 

Program information

Level: Undergraduate Program Length: 2 years
Intake: 30 Includes summer term: Optional
Co-op: No Full-time or part-time: Full-time (One week intensive/month)
Department: IED Location: Community-based
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Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Language Revitalization

About the Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Language Revitalization

The program goals are to ensure a generation of language experts who will have the language and academic skills to participate and lead successful language revitalization efforts in Indigenous communities, and to develop language scholars who wil have the expertise to support post-secondary instruction in the revitalization, recovery and maintenance of Indigenous languages. This program is offered to those who are not looking for a degree.

Program information

Level: Professional Development (Graduate) Program Length: 
Co-op: No  
Department: IED Location: UVic
Special program. Please contact Department

Master of Education in Indigenous Language Revitalization

About the Master of Education in Indigenous Language Revitalization

The program goals are to ensure a generation of language experts who will have the language and academic skills to participate and lead successful language revitalization efforts in Indigenous communities, and to develop language scholars who wil have the expertise to support post-secondary instruction in the revitalization, recovery and maintenance of Indigenous languages. The Master of Education is based on a project, offering more flexibility. This is the program for you if you don't plan on pursuing further academic programs.

Program information

Level: Graduate Program Length: 2 years
Intake: 30 Includes summer term: Yes
Co-op: No Full-time or part-time: Full-time (One week intensive/month)
Department: IED Location: UVic
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Master of Arts in Indigenous Language Revitalization

About the Master of Arts in Indigenous Language Revitalization

The program goals are to ensure a generation of language experts who will have the language and academic skills to participate and lead successful language revitalization efforts in Indigenous communities, and to develop language scholars who wil have the expertise to support post-secondary instruction in the revitalization, recovery and maintenance of Indigenous languages. The Master of Arts opens the door to further academic programs. It requires working on a Thesis.

Program information

Level: Graduate Program Length: 2 years
Intake: 30 Includes summer term: Yes
Co-op: No Full-time or part-time: Full-time (One week intensive/month)
Department: IED Location: UVic
View full program

Careers

What you can do with a degree in Indigenous language revitalization:

  • Community language educator

  • Language teaching specialist in public and independent schools

  • Community development

  • policy advisor &/or analyst to multiple levels of government

  • Language teacher in First Nations school or BC Public School.